RULES
Don ’ t take that Teeing Ground for Granted
There are several things you need to remember 18 times every round if you want to stay on the right side of the law — and some of them are quirky . They all concern the “ teeing ground ,” a very specific area defined by the Rules which is different from the larger ( undefined ) flat area upon which the tee markers are placed and rotated .
First , consider that irregularly shaped tee markers — and tee markers which “ aim ” you away from the fairway — may confuse things . Be careful as you determine where the teeing ground begins and ends . Here ’ s the Definition :
Teeing Ground
The “ teeing ground ” is the starting place for the hole to be played . It is a rectangular area two club lengths in depth , the front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of two tee markers . A ball is outside the teeing ground when all of it lies outside the teeing ground .
The first thing to note is that the teeing ground is determined not by your favored line of play , but only by the position of the markers which create the forward side of a rectangle two club lengths deep . The key word here is rectangle . The teeing ground is not an odd shape — it must have right angles . And even if the markers point you away from your desired direction of play , the teeing ground is nonetheless defined by them . You must tee the ball within that rect-
Howard Meditz is a USGA Rules Official for the Metropolitan Golf Association , Rules Chairman for the Men ’ s Club at Sterling Farms Golf Course in Stamford and author of How to Love the Rules of Golf .
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